41st edition: Sunday, March 4, 2018

The race: winner Matej Mohoric's Bahrain-Merida team posted these remarks:

Great victory for Matej Mohoric at the end of GP Larciano. The 23-year-old Slovenian was the first over the finish line after a splendid solitary action and a pretty creepy descent.

“I have to thank all my teammates – says Matej – for the great work they have done throughout the day. I knew that the climb was long and that I could get back in the first group without spending too much energy. I wanted to help Giovanni Visconti in the final and when Majka left I went after him. I found myself in the front and so I decided to go all the way.”

“I have been studying the climb in the first three laps and I knew that if I had taken the last descent first I could have played my chances. Before the end of the descent, I turned around and saw that nobody was there, after that I did not turn around until I was over the finish line!”

“It’s a very important success because it’s my first victory with the Bahrain Merida Team’s jersey. After Abu Dhabi Tour, I trained well and I had good feelings. Yesterday I did a good Strade Bianche (11th place) and today it went even better! Now I will start to concentrate on the Giro d’Italia.”

A good sixth place for Giovanni Visconti: “I was fine even if the effort of the Strade Bianche showed in the final. I tried to surprise the favorites but the group of the best sent me back. I’m happy for Matej who also made a great race yesterday.“

The final comment is from the Sports Director Alberto Volpi: “A great race. The team worked very well and in the final we were perfect. In the penultimate lap Giovanni showed effort and then Matej attacked in the final. I am also happy that he won the young athlete. This is also very important for the team.“